Thailand declares Bangkok violence mostly over
Source: Agencies |
May 21, 2010, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE Thai government declared yesterday it had mostly quelled 10 weeks of violent protests in the capital as buildings still smoldered, troops rooted out small pockets of resistance and residents attempted to return to normal life.
But a nighttime curfew was extended in Bangkok and 23 other provinces for three more days. Troops and die-hard anti-government protesters exchanged sporadic fire in parts of the city after the military operation the day before cleared most of a protest encampment in the center of the capital, leaving 15 dead and 98 wounded.
A special police unit yesterday led more than a thousand people - many of them women and children - away from a Buddhist temple in the heart of the former "Red Shirt" protest zone. Six bodies were found on its grounds.
Three more Red Shirt leaders surrendered to authorities yesterday. Five leaders gave themselves up the day before and were flown to a military camp south of Bangkok for interrogation.
"I'd like to ask all sides to calm down and talk with each other in a peaceful manner," said Veera Musikapong after being taken into custody yesterday. "We cannot create democracy with anger."
Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kawekamnerd said the situation in Bangkok was mostly under control.
But a branch of Siam City Bank was set afire, the first reported arson attack after 39 buildings were torched the day before. According to state-run television, a firefighter was shot and wounded yesterday while trying to put out the flames at a shopping center.
The situation was also volatile outside Bangkok.
Nation Television reported one person was killed and 14 wounded in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, one of several provinces where protests erupted on Wednesday.
But a nighttime curfew was extended in Bangkok and 23 other provinces for three more days. Troops and die-hard anti-government protesters exchanged sporadic fire in parts of the city after the military operation the day before cleared most of a protest encampment in the center of the capital, leaving 15 dead and 98 wounded.
A special police unit yesterday led more than a thousand people - many of them women and children - away from a Buddhist temple in the heart of the former "Red Shirt" protest zone. Six bodies were found on its grounds.
Three more Red Shirt leaders surrendered to authorities yesterday. Five leaders gave themselves up the day before and were flown to a military camp south of Bangkok for interrogation.
"I'd like to ask all sides to calm down and talk with each other in a peaceful manner," said Veera Musikapong after being taken into custody yesterday. "We cannot create democracy with anger."
Army spokesman Colonel Sansern Kawekamnerd said the situation in Bangkok was mostly under control.
But a branch of Siam City Bank was set afire, the first reported arson attack after 39 buildings were torched the day before. According to state-run television, a firefighter was shot and wounded yesterday while trying to put out the flames at a shopping center.
The situation was also volatile outside Bangkok.
Nation Television reported one person was killed and 14 wounded in the northeastern province of Khon Kaen, one of several provinces where protests erupted on Wednesday.
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